Biomedical subjects

P Agostinis

Publications and source records attributed to P Agostinis.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Photosensitized inhibition of growth factor-regulated protein kinases by hypericin.

The naphthodianthrone hypericin causes a photosensitized inhibition of protein kinases involved in growth factor signalling pathways. Nanomolar concentrations of hypericin inhibit the protein tyrosine kinase activities (PTK) of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the insulin receptor, while being ineffective towards the cytosolic protein tyrosine kinases Lyn, Fgr, TPK-IIB and CSK. Photosensitized inhibition by hypericin is not restricted to receptor-PTKs since the Ser/Thr protein kinases (protein kinase CK-2, protein kinase C and mitogen-activated kinase) are also extremely sensitive to inhibition (IC50 value for protein kinase CK-2 = 6 nM). A comparison of the hypericin-mediated inhibition of the epidermal growth factor-receptor PTK and protein kinase CK-2 revealed that the inhibition is irreversible, strictly dependent upon irradiation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex with fluorescent light and likely mediated by the formation of radical intermediates (type I mechanism). Although the exact molecular basis for the selectivity of enzyme inhibition by hypericin remains unknown, our results suggest that distantly related protein kinases could still share common reactive domains for the interaction with hypericin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activity by hypericin.

The naphthodianthrone hypericin produces a potent and irreversible inhibition of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase activity. The inhibition was time and temperature dependent but did not depend on EGF activation. The IC50 values obtained were 0.37-8.7 microM with membranes incubated for 30 min at 30 degrees or 10 min at 0 degree, respectively. Kinetic analyses with poly(Glu,Ala,Tyr) 6:3:1 [poly(GAT)] as an exogenous substrate were in agreement with the irreversible nature of the inhibition. Irradiation for 30 min with fluorescent light caused a dramatic photosensitizing effect and resulted in an IC50 value of 44 nM. This effect was due to a type I mechanism, since the exclusion of oxygen did not alter the inhibition curve. The inhibition was inversely proportional to the amounts of membranes used, which probably reflects the non-specific sequestration of hypericin into the lipid bilayer. Ser/Thr protein kinases such as protein kinase A, casein kinase 1 and 2 and the enzyme 5'-nucleotidase, were not inhibited by hypericin not even at high concentrations (> 100 microM).

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Early responses in mitogenic signaling, bombesin induced protein phosphorylations in Swiss 3T3 cells.

The amphibian tetradecapeptide bombesin as well as the bombesin-related mammalian peptides are potent mitogens for Swiss 3T3 cells. Other sole mitogens for Swiss 3T3 cells, such as PDGF and FGF, invariably signal through a tyrosine kinase receptor. The bombesin receptor has been cloned from Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and was shown to be a member of the family of G-protein-linked neuropeptide receptors, whose sequence does not reveal a protein kinase domain. Upon binding to its receptor, bombesin evokes a complex cascade of early biochemical events including inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+, Na+ and K+ fluxes, PK-C activation, transmodulation of the EGF-receptor, accumulation and expression of the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc and cAMP production. The intermediates in this signaling pathway are still largely unknown. Since many hormones and neuropeptides that signal through similar receptors with seven membrane spanning domains are by themselves not mitogenic for Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, we suggest that bombesin acts through a rather special signaling pathway. Although its receptor does not feature a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domain, bombesin rapidly stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple protein substrates, which are however quite distinct from the usual targets of tyrosine kinase receptors. Yet, a similar cascade of Ser/Thr protein kinases is activated downstream of these differentiating tyrosine kinase events, since, like EGF or insulin, bombesin rapidly stimulates the activity of two MBP kinases as well as several S6 peptide kinases. The present report furthermore implicates CK-2 in the early signal transduction pathway of this mitogen, and it is postulated that the activation of CK-2 may be an intrinsic property of "sole mitogens" like bombesin, as it may be a compulsory event leading to cell division. In that respect, CK-2 may also be the point of integration of multiple signaling pathways, initiated by several different growth factors which by their synergistic actions make cell proliferation possible.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Tumor necrosis factor stimulates multiple serine/threonine protein kinases in Swiss 3T3 and L929 cells. Implication of casein kinase-2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the tumor necrosis factor signal transduction pathway.

Incubation of Swiss 3T3 or L929 cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) leads to the rapid stimulation of several cytosolic Ser/Thr kinases active toward myelin basic protein, the S6 peptide (RRLSSLR), the G peptide (SPQPSRRGSESSEE), and Kemptide (LRRASLG). This confirms the hypothesis that kinases other than protein kinases A and C may be involved in the TNF signal transduction. Chromatography on Mono Q resolved multiple kinase peaks with each substrate tested and moreover revealed a TNF-mediated casein kinase-2 activation in both cell lines, measurable with the specific RRREEESEEE peptide or with the G peptide. The TNF-stimulated myelin basic protein kinases-1 and -2 were identified as extracellular signal-regulated kinases-2 and -1, respectively, based on their elution pattern on Mono Q chromatography, their inactivation by protein phosphatase action, their reaction with phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine antibodies, and by their migration on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as 42- and 44-kDa proteins recognized by anti-extracellular signal-regulated kinase antibodies.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Phosphorylation of the phosphatase modulator subunit (inhibitor-2) by casein kinase-1. Identification of the phosphorylation sites.

The isolated modulator subunit of the inactive protein phosphatase-1 is phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase-1 at two different sites: Ser-86 and Ser-174. The Ser-86 site is a common target for casein kinase-1 and casein kinase-2, but is preferentially phosphorylated by the former enzyme. The Ser-174 site seems to be specific for casein kinase-1, and is phosphorylated at a slower rate. These results give a new insight into the in vitro phosphorylation pattern of the modulator subunit of the phosphatase and provides additional data on the specificity of casein kinase-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Rapid stimulation of Ser/Thr protein kinases following treatment of Swiss 3T3 cells with bombesin. Involvement of casein kinase-2 in the signaling pathway of bombesin.

Treatment of quiescent Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts with bombesin resulted in a rapid 6-8-fold stimulation of cytosolic Ser/Thr kinase activities toward the S6 peptide (RRLSSLR), myelin basic protein (MBP), and the G peptide (SPQPSRRGSESSEE). Anion exchange Mono Q chromatography resolved multiple S6 peptide- and G peptide kinase activities and two MBP kinase peaks. Both MBP- and several S6 peptide kinase peaks could be inactivated by PCSL (PP2A2) phosphatase action. This indicates that the bombesin-induced activation of these enzymes is mediated by a Ser/Thr phosphorylation event. The S6 peptide kinases as well as the two MBP kinases stimulated in response to bombesin are similar to those activated by epidermal growth factor in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts which suggests that the early events of the signal transduction pathway mediated by these growth factors in Swiss 3T3 cells may converge in the activation of common Ser/Thr kinases. Bombesin, which acts as a sole mitogen for Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, also produced a several-fold increase in the kinase activity toward the RRREEESEEE peptide, a specific substrate for CK-2. This kinase activity was heparin-sensitive and also measurable with the G peptide (SPQPSRRGSESSEE) and GS-1 peptide (YRRAAVPPSPSPSLSRHSSPHQSEDEE), which contain consensus sequences for phosphorylation by CK-2. The bombesin-stimulated CK-2 activity could not be measured in whole cytosols but was revealed by the anion exchange chromatography step. The activation of CK-2 was not reversed by PCSL phosphatase action. The implication of CK-2 in the signal transduction pathway of bombesin is discussed.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Specificity of the polycation-stimulated (type-2A) and ATP,Mg-dependent (type-1) protein phosphatases toward substrates phosphorylated by P34cdc2 kinase.

p34cdc2 kinase, a critical regulator of the cell cycle, has been shown to recognize the consensus sequence S/TP in proteins such as histone H1, the retinoblastoma gene product RB and the carboxyl-terminal domain of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. Using phosphorylated synthetic peptides, representing the p34cdc2 phosphorylation sites in these proteins and histone H1 protein as substrates, we investigated the substrate specificity of the different oligomeric forms of the polycation-stimulated (PCS/type-2A) protein phosphatase and the active catalytic subunit of the ATP,Mg-dependent (AMDc/type 1) protein phosphatase. The results show that the oligomeric structure of the PCS phosphatases is an important determinant for efficient dephosphorylation. The trimeric PCSH1 and PCSM phosphatases are about 10-20-fold-better histone H1 phosphatases than the dimeric PCSH2 and PCSL phosphatases and about 100-fold better than the catalytic subunit (PCSC), suggesting a regulatory role for the 72-kDa, 65-kDa and 55-kDa subunits. The RB peptide = INGS(P)PRT(P)PRRGQNR, is preferred over phosphorylase a (8-fold) by the PCSH1 phosphatase and is about a 40-fold and 95-fold-better substrate for the PCSH1 phosphatase than for the PCSM and PCSL phosphatases, respectively. The primary structure surrounding the S/T(P)P motif, by itself a strong negative determinant for dephosphorylation, can harbour positive features which relieve the constraint imposed by the carboxyl-terminal proline. Thus, the RB peptide INGS(P)PRT(P)PRRGQNR, in which the T(P)P configuration is preferred over the S(P)P sequence, is an extremely good and specific substrate for the PCSH1 phosphatase (Km = 10 microM, Vmax = 3882 nmol.min-1.mg-1). The AMDC phosphatase is a poor phosphatase for all the phosphopeptides tested, unless Mn2+ is added. Its histone H1 phosphatase activity is much less sensitive than its phosphorylase a and phosphopeptide phosphatase activity to inhibition by the modulator or inhibitor-1. The results strongly suggest a role for the trimeric PCSH1 phosphatase in reversing the p34cdc2 phosphorylations.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1990

Synthetic peptides as model substrates for the study of the specificity of the polycation-stimulated protein phosphatases.

The substrate specificity of the different forms of the polycation-stimulated (PCS, type 2A) protein phosphatases and of the active catalytic subunit of the ATP, Mg-dependent (type 1) phosphatase (AMDC) was investigated, using synthetic peptides phosphorylated by either cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase or by casein kinase-2. The PCS phosphatases are very efficient toward the Thr(P) peptides RRAT(P)VA and RRREEET(P)EEE when compared with the Ser(P) analogues RRAS(P)VA and RRREEES(P)EEEAA. Despite their distinct sequence, both Thr(P) peptides are excellent substrates for the PCSM and PCSH1 phosphatases, being dephosphorylated faster than phosphorylase a. The slow dephosphorylation of RRAS(P)VA by the PCS phosphatases could be increased substantially by the insertion of N-terminal (Arg) basic residues. In contrast with the latter, the AMDC phosphatase shows very poor activity toward all the phosphopeptides tested, without preference for either Ser(P) or Thr(P) peptides. However, N-terminal basic residues also favor the dephosphorylation of otherwise almost inert substrates by the AMDC phosphatase. Hence, while the dephosphorylation of Thr(P) substrates by the PCS phosphatases is highly favored by the nature of the phosphorylated amino acid, phosphatase activity toward Ser(P)-containing peptides may require specific determinants in the primary structure of the phosphorylation site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

A synthetic peptide substrate specific for casein kinase I.

The synthetic peptide, Asp-Asp-Asp-Glu-Glu-Ser-Ile-Thr-Arg-Arg, derived from the phosphorylation site of casein kinase-1 (CK-1) in beta-casein A(2), is readily phosphorylated by CK-1, but not by casein kinase-2(CK-2), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, phosphorylase kinase and protein kinase FA. Phosphorylation by CK-1 occurs only at Ser-6, Thr-8 being unaffected. The Km for the peptide is higher (1 mM) than for beta-casein A(2) (40 microM), while the Vmax is quite comparable. This is the first synthetic peptide substrate for CK-1 described so far, and can be used for the rapid and specific estimation of CK-1 activity in crude extracts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Metabolic regulation through second-site phosphorylation.

Protein phosphorylation is the most prevalent covalent reversible modification used for the regulation of many biological functions. The dynamic phosphorylation state of cellular proteins results from the balance between the activities of protein kinases and phosphatases. Even autophosphorylation, shared by practically all protein kinases, is also considered as a mode of enzyme regulation. Phosphodephosphorylation reactions seem also to be regulated at the substrate level, and the structure of a target protein can be strongly altered through phosphorylation in a way which may either promote or depress the further action of a protein kinase or phosphatase. Second-site phosphorylation may have various consequences on the kinetic properties of the enzyme-substrate. Glycogen synthase is possibly one of the most complex examples of enzyme regulation through interactions between phosphorylation sites. An interesting example of regulation at the substrate level in a network protein phosphorylations, is provided by the effects of casein kinase-1 (CK-1), casein kinase-2 (CK-2) and protein kinase FA (PKFA) on the modulator protein of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase. The crucial step in the activation of the enzyme is the transient phosphorylation of the modulator at the Thr-72 residue catalyzed by PKFA. The CK-2 mediated phosphorylation occurs at three Ser residues: Ser-86, Ser-120 and Ser-121. Although by itself CK-2 does not elicit any phosphatase activity, it potentiates the subsequent activation brought about by PKFA. The phosphorylation mediated by CK-1, probably directed toward Ser-86, blocks the activation of the ATP,Mg-dependent phosphatase mediated by PKFA.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

PubMed1987

Regulation of casein kinase 2 by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.

The effects of various polycation-stimulated (PCS) phosphatases and of the active catalytic subunit of the ATPMg-dependent (AMDc) protein phosphatase on the activity of casein kinase 2 (CK-2) were investigated by using the synthetic peptide substrate Ser-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu, whose phosphorylated derivative is entirely insensitive to these protein phosphatases. Previous dephosphorylation of native CK-2 enhances its specific activity 2-3-fold. Such an effect, accounted for by an increase in Vmax, is more readily promoted by the PCS phosphatases than by the AMDc phosphatase. The phosphate incorporated by autophosphorylation could not be removed by the protein phosphatases, suggesting the involvement of phosphorylation site(s) other than the one(s) affected by intramolecular autophosphorylation. The activation of CK-2 by the phosphatase pretreatment is neutralized during the kinase assay; the mechanism of this phenomenon, which is highly dependent on the kinase concentration, is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1987

The ATP,Mg-dependent protein phosphatase: regulation by casein kinase-1.

The free modulator subunit of the ATP,Mg-dependent phosphatase is phosphorylated up to 1 mol per mol by casein kinase-1, up to 1.85 mol per mol after dephosphorylation by the PCSH1 phosphatase, but 10-fold less when purified in the presence of NaF, suggesting an in vivo phosphorylation of the casein kinase-1 sites. Peptide mapping of 32P-modulator labeled by casein kinase-1 or -2 shows a different phosphorylation pattern. Phosphorylation of the inactive phosphatase by casein kinase-1 prevents the subsequent kinase FA-mediated activation, while it does not impair the activated phosphatase.

Casein Kinases↗

PubMed1987

Dephosphorylation of phosphoproteins and synthetic phosphopeptides. Study of the specificity of the polycation-stimulated and MgATP-dependent phosphorylase phosphatases.

The substrate specificity of different forms of polycation-stimulated (PCSH, PCSL, and PCSC) phosphorylase phosphatases and of the catalytic subunit of the MgATP-dependent protein phosphatase from rabbit skeletal muscle was investigated. This was done, with phosphorylase a as the reference substrate, using the synthetic phosphopeptides patterned after the phosphorylated sites of pyruvate kinase (type L) (Arg2-Ala-Ser(32P)-Val-Ala (S2), and its Thr(32P) substitute (T4)), inhibitor-1 (Arg4-Pro-Thr(32P)-Pro-Ala (T5), Arg2-Pro-Thr(32P)-Pro-Ala (T1), and its Ser(32P) substitute (S1)), and some modified phosphopeptides (Arg2-Ala-Thr(32P)-Pro-Ala (T2) and Arg2-Pro-Thr(32P)-Val-Ala (T3)), all phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. In addition, casein(Thr-32P), phosphorylated by casein kinase-2, was also tested. The PCS phosphatases show a striking preference for the T4 configuration, PCSC being the least efficient. The catalytic subunit of the MgATP-dependent phosphatase was almost completely inactive toward all these substrates. As shown for the PCSH phosphatase, and comparing with T4, the two proline residues flanking the Thr(P) in T1 and T5, just as in inhibitor-1, drastically imparied the dephosphorylation by lowering the Vmax and not by affecting the apparent Km. The C-terminal proline (as in T2) by itself represents a highly unfavorable factor in the dephosphorylation. The critical effect of the sequence X-Thr(P)-Pro or Pro-Thr(P)-Pro (T1, T2, T5, and inhibitor-1) can be overcome by manganese ions. The additional finding that this is not the case with the Pro-Ser(P)-Pro sequence (S1) suggests that the effect of Mn2+ is highly substrate specific. These observations show the considerable importance of the primary structure of the substrate in determining the specificity of the protein phosphatases.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1987

The polycation-stimulated protein phosphatases: regulation and specificity.

Four classes of protein phosphatases are presumed to play an important role in dephosphorylating the major proteins involved in the control of general metabolism. Based on the enzyme-directed regulation of activity they have been classified as ATP,Mg-dependent-, polycation-stimulated-, Mg2+-dependent protein phosphatases and calcineurin. We have recently purified from rabbit skeletal muscle four distinct PCS protein phosphatases, classified according to the apparent molecular weight of the native enzymes in gel filtration at an early stage of the purification as: PCSH (390 kDa), PCSM (250 kDa) and PCSL (200 kDa) phosphatases. The PCSH phosphatase could be resolved into a 3(65:55 35 kDa)-subunit PCSH1 phosphatase and a 2(65:35 kDa)-subunit PCSH2 enzyme probably derived from the PCSH1 phosphatase, both characterized as specific deinhibitor phosphatases. PCSM phosphatase, a 3(72:65 35 kDa)-subunit enzyme, shows a high degree of stimulation with a low concentration optimum of polycations and is sensitive to a Ca2+-dependent protease, which brings about a five- to ten-fold increase in inhibitor-1 phosphatase activity. PCSL phosphatase is characterized by a 2(65:35 kDa)-subunit structure, a low intrinsic deinhibitor phosphatase activity and a low degree of stimulation of phosphorylase phosphatase activity requiring high concentrations of polycations. At low concentrations of polycations the stimulation of phosphorylase phosphatase activity of the PCS enzymes is enzyme-directed, since it occurs at concentrations far below the substrate concentration. The degree of stimulation is also typical for each type of enzyme (PCSM greater than PCSH1 greater than PCSH2 greater than PCSL greater than PCSC) and dependent on the polycation used; at the optimum concentration the most effective polycations (polylysine, protamine, histone H1) stimulate the phosphorylase phosphatase activity to about the same extent. Polycation concentrations above the optimum are less effective on phosphorylase phosphatase activity and can even become inhibitory to the basal activity. Whether this effect is enzyme- or substrate-directed (or both) is not known. The stimulation by polycations could be completely lost following preincubation of the PCS phosphatase with polycations. This deactivation is time-, temperature- and concentration-dependent. However the polycations did not affect the basal phosphorylase phosphatase activity. In addition to phosphorylase a and inhibitor-1, casein, myosin light chains and phosphorylase b kinase (alpha-subunit) are choice substrates for these enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Phosphorylation of the modulator protein of the ATP, Mg-dependent protein phosphatase by casein kinase TS. Reversal by PCS phosphatases and control by distinct phosphorylation site(s).

The phosphorylation by casein kinase TS (II) of the modulator protein of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase increases after preincubation with the PCSH1 phosphatase or with the catalytic subunit of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase. Dephosphorylation by the two phosphatases combined leads to the incorporation of 2 mol phosphate per mol modulator (at Ser residues). Occupancy of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase phosphorylation site(s) is a negative determinant in the phosphorylation of the modulator by kinase TS. Among the PCS phosphatases PCSH1 shows the highest activity toward the 32P-Ser residues labeled by kinase TS in untreated or previously dephosphorylated modulator, while the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase is totally ineffective. Protamine stimulates all phosphatase activities, so that the catalytic subunit of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase becomes almost as effective as the PCSC phosphatase in dephosphorylating the kinase TS sites.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1985

Casein kinases and their protein substrates in rat liver cytosol: evidence for their participation in multimolecular systems.

We have shown by gel filtration on Sepharose 4B at low ionic strength that casein kinases S (type 1), heparin-insensitive, and TS (type 2), heparin-inhibited, of rat liver cytosol participate in two distinct multimolecular systems, Ve/Vo = 1.25 and Ve/Vo = 1.90, respectively, both less retarded than the peak of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity (Ve/Vo = 2.04). Both casein kinase I and casein kinase II complexes are unstable in 0.5 M NaCl, giving rise by gel filtration under these conditions to the free forms of casein kinase S (Ve/Vo = 2.37, Mr 34 000) and casein kinase TS (Ve/Vo = 2.10, Mr 130 000), respectively. In contrast, the elution volume of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity is always the same irrespective of the ionic strength of the medium. Casein kinase I, accounting for the whole casein kinase S activity of cytosol, also contains a phosphorylatable 31-kDa protein (p31) which is a substrate of casein kinase S, since its phosphorylation is insensitive to heparin, the heat-stable inhibitor and trifluoperazine, but it is prevented by beryllium. Casein kinase II, on the other hand, apparently results from the association of the whole casein kinase TS (type 2) of rat liver cytosol with a 90-kDa protein substrate (p90) which is distinct from glycogen synthase according to their different peptide mappings. The radiolabelling of p90 is inhibited by heparin, unlabeled GTP and polyglutamates, while it is dramatically and specifically enhanced by polylysine. At least three more protein bands of Mr 58 000, 52 000 and 37 000 are phosphorylated by casein kinase TS in the casein kinase II fraction: their co-elution with casein kinase TS, however, seems to be accidental and their radiolabeling in the presence of polylysine is almost negligible compared to that of p90. It is concluded that p31 and p90 may represent specific targets of casein kinase S and casein kinase TS, respectively, whose intimate association with the enzymes could be functionally significant.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bursting metastasis in thymic carcinoma.

Thymic carcinomas (primitive malignant epithelial neoplasms of the thymus) are rare tumors which generally remain silent for long periods and rarely metastatize outside the chest. The authors present a case of a 49 year-old patient, with mediastinal mass complicated by pericardial effusion and rapidly extensive liver metastasis. Data in the literature indicate that completeness of the excision at initial operation is the most important prognostic factor, but the presence of necrosis, high number of mitosis and endolymphatic emboli in the specimens could indicate a poor prognosis, suggesting a tempestive treatment and a close follow-up.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Photodynamic activity of hypericin in human urinary bladder carcinoma cells.

Recently, we reported the selective accumulation of hypericin in transitional cell carcinoma cells following intravesical instillation of hypericin in humans. This observation infers that hypericin, a potent photosensitizer, could be used as a selective PDT (photodynamic therapy) tool against superficial bladder cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro whether hypericin exhibits specific affinity for TCC transitional cell carcinoma) bladder cells and to assess its photocytotoxic effect. Three human TCC cell lines (J-82, T-24 and RT-4), a chemically induced rat TCC cell line (NBT-II), but also non-bladder carcinoma cells (HeLa, A431, MCF-7 and MCF-***ADR) and normal cells (HEL229, RPE and PHK), were used in this comparative study. Flow cytometric analysis of cells treated with different hypericin-containing vehicles for various incubation times (2 hours or 24 hours) indicated that short exposure of the cells (2 hours) to hypericin in the absence of serum results in the highest intracellular accumulation of the compound. As expected, prolonging the incubation time increased both the cellular accumulation and photocytoxicity of hypericia. With the exception of the RT-4 and MCF-7 cells (which were less sensitive to hypericin), all the other carcinoma cell lines examined showed equal sensitivity to the photoactivated hypericia, independently of their histological origin (bladder or non-bladder). Moreover, normal cells exhibited the same pattern of hypericin photosensitivity as shown by the cancer cells, indicating that, in cultured cells, hypericin cellular uptake and subsequent photokilling is not selective. This suggests that in vivo factors other than the cancer cells themselves are responsible for the specific accumulation of hypericin in urothelial carcinoma lesions.

Anthracenes↗